Industry Night with Nycci Nellis

I used to have a black thumb and because of an Imperial Palm, I began a slow descent into plant parent mania. I have no idea what I am doing, it is truly by a hope and a prayer that my plants not just survive but thrive. Lucky for all of us — there are incredible plant shops with passionate experts in the DC area and I have three of them here with me today -Matthew Roberts (Store Manager and Horti...

In March 2011, a magnitude-9.0 earthquake and then a massive tsunami struck Japan’s Tohoku region along the northeast coast. Near-total devastation and more than 20,000 deaths, Wiping out most of its food production it had forced the Japanese to reimagine the framework of the local economy, and it’s responding with surprising economic vigor thanks to new approaches to farming and fishing. Here in...

While we all may be behaving as if the pandemic is over, it isn’t. And the residual effects of the last two years will clearly be felt for some time to come. Nobody knows that more than people in the hospitality community. A few weeks back, Greg Engert & Michael Babin of Neighborhood Restaurant Group reopened their flagship Churchkey to much well-deserved fanfare. It’s been a minute since the...

Nina Oduro, Co-Founder of Dine Diaspora launched her Black-women owned agency with an eye toward culinary, community, and commerce. A connection of people and brands to African diaspora food culture. Dine Diaspora launched their 2022 “Black Women in Food” awards honoring 31 women. Don’t you want to know who they are? Find out on Industry Night with Nycci Nellis on Real Fun DC

Farmers Markets don’t just miraculously happen it takes a village to find an area with a need, identify the right location, get the right players together, all the permits, and then you have to curate the vendors and then, finally ring the opening bell! Deb Moser and Mitch Berliner have done just that. The new Half Street Market has opened right at Nat’s Ball Park — and on tonight's Industry Night...

Buildings Are Alive! Don’t believe me? On the next Industry Night, I chat with Cathy Frankel, Vice President for Exhibitions and Collections, of the National Building Museum and Bruno de Sa Moreira, CEO for Histovery, the team behind Notre-Dame de Paris: The Augmented Exhibition. But before we all chat Emily Schildt, CEO & Founder of Pop Up Grocer, now at Union Market takes through her curated...

Let’s go on a field trip to Richmond with Robey Martin. Robey is an incredible mover and shaker in Richmond’s hospitality scene and nobody knows the ins and out quite like her. Robey is a food journalist, on air personality for CBS 6, hosts the Eat It Virginia podcast and she joins Nycci Nellis on Industry Night on Real Fun DC

In case you didn’t get the memo — events are back in DC. And bringing back one of the area’s most beloved events — New Kitchens on The Block — creators Al Goldberg and Nevin Martell catch us up on what April 30th 2022 will look like and brought with them several notables who's doors you will be entering soon: Blake King of ToriSumi Yakitori + Marcelle Afram, Shababi Diner + Margaux Riccio of Cenzo...

We are so lucky to have a thriving theatre community in the DC Area. The Launch of Grace, The musical is an incredible example of the talent here. On Industry Night, Nycci chats with Composer and creator of Grace, Nolan Williams, Jr & Chef Tiffany Derry the owner, operator, founder of Roots Chicken Shak franchise and the Roots Southern Table restaurant and who is an advocate for the show. We s...

DC Central Kitchen’s Mike Curtin has been a regular on Industry Night since it launched in The Line Hotel five years ago. The last two years Mike and Nycci have talked a lot about how DC Central Kitchen has had to twist and swivel to continue with its mission. A little return to normal, DC CENTRAL KITCHEN’S CAPITAL FOOD FIGHT is back. With Mike is Tom Colicchio of Crafted Hospitality and you may h...

Our relationship with food is an ever-evolving journey. On the next Industry Night, Nycci digs down deep with certified eating psychology expert and health coach, Elise Museles and talks her new book, Food Story: Rewrite The Way You Eat, Think & Live. 7pm on RealFunDC

In the last 15 years, there has been a real shift in the food court — the food hall. Food halls offer an alternative to traditional dining and more of these concepts are opening every month including Western Market in Foggy Bottom. On the next Industry Night, Nycci talks the business of food halls, the curation of a food hall and running your concept in a food hall with CANA Development’s Nick Ale...

March marks the celebration of Women’s History Month, a time when we commemorate the role of women in history and the women in the hospitality Industry. During the pandemic women chefs, restaurateurs and makers twisted and swiveled and then turned to each other to keep their businesses afloat. Enter Regarding Her. On the next Industry Night, Nycci speaks with Regarding Her founders, Sylvie Gabriel...

Recycling is confusing. Compost. Reusable bags. No straws. Want to live a less wasteful life but feel that you’re failing miserably? Help is on the way! Author of Zero Waste Living, the 80/20 Way, Stephanie Miller joins Nycci Nellis on Industry Night to help all of us do better. And, Love Local is back to provide funding for National Landing restaurants and small businesses. Tracy Sayegh Gabriel,...

On the next Industry Night, Nycci makes sure that love remains in the air and retains its post-Valentine’s Day luster with author, Christine DeLozier and her book, Diet for Great Sex. And, Heather Clancy & Paul Caris both with Grace O’ Malley Spirits zoom in from Ireland to talk Irish Whiskey, Irish Gin, and the amazing story behind Grace O’ Malley

A computer that predicts what wine you will like? Yep! Katerina Axelsson, founder & CEO of Tastry, a California sensory science company that predicts how consumers will perceive any product you can taste or smell joins Nycci Nellis along with Sommelier/Wine Steward at Vons Grocery, Hillary Klein and Alexandre Remy Managing Partner/Winemaker at Atlas Wine Co for a deep dive on the science of ma...

Being a model sounds fabulous. But not every pretty face becomes a model, creates a style aesthetic and becomes a sought-after stylist, and launches a modeling company, especially in DC. Joy Kingsley-Ibeh did all of that, truly the definition of an entrepreneur. But first, Nycci catches up with Chef Eric Adjepong who is taking time out of the kitchen to host Food Network's Alex vs America. Industr...

Omicron is spreading like the highly transmissable virus that it is, restaurants are short staffed, and market shelves are not well-stocked. Uh who can use I drink? On the next Industry Night, Nycci talks with Sam Nellis (yes, they’re related) Beverage Director for All Purpose Pizza & Red Hen about getting on the dry-January bandwagon. Zero-proof cocktails, non-alcoholic beers & wines offe...

On the first Industry Night of 2022 Nycci talks the absolute do’s of dining right now with Kathy Hollinger of the Restaurant Association of Metro Washington. And, all the way from Japan - seriously - Honkaku Spirits founder Christopher Pellegrini and Ambassador of Honkaku Spirits, Stephen Lyman provide a Japanese Distillery education. Think you know koji-fermented shochu, awamori and whiskey? Clas...

Restaurants had to up their takeaway abilities. Now there are heating instructions, maybe you have to cook something a bit, plating ideas maybe there’s a video? All of this has become part of the “at home” experience. Enter Table 22 and their monthly meal subscriptions. On the next Industry Night, Sam Bernstein joins Nycci Nellis along with Grace Shea of Lebanese Taverna, Rob Sonderman of Federali...

The holiday season can be a time of pure gluttony. A glut of friends, family, food and food and food and all the festivities that are usually centered on food. And with all that excess, it is gobsmacking to believe that in this country there are many and of all ages who are in a struggle to access food. On the next Industry Night, Nycci brings in a panel of experts — Mike Curtin, Jr, of DC Central...

They say it is better to give than to receive and on the next Industry Night Nycci helps make that a reality. Bart Yablonsky, owner of one of the last independent grocery stores in the DC Metro area, Dawsons Dupont & Rockville helped gather a group of local vendors - Sarah Dwyer of Choquette, Ekua DuFu of Natural Essentials and Chris Burns of Old Ox Brewing - who each have great stories and gi...

On the next Industry Night: Kosher dining -yes Kosher dining. Kosher is not a cuisine it is a way of observing and eating bu, you don’ have to be Jewish to enjoy the benefits of it. Chap Gage & Yehuda Malka of Schmaltz Bros give a Kosher 101 and the latest on their new concept, Hamakom. But first, Nycci gets naked - not really - but she does chat with Tanecia Britt & Kohn Glay creators of...

The Hill Center is a true gem in this city. A cultural and arts nonprofit that was disconnected from it’s community (like many others) during the height of the pandemic. What does a community center do when they can’t serve in their original capacity? They get creative! On the next Industry Night, Bonny Wolf, Bonnie Benwick, Bill Schindler, and, Marianne Tshihamba, talk their collab, A Taste of Hi...

The National Reuse Awards aka The Reusies were a few months back and presented by the non-profit, Upstream, who is behind initiatives to irradicate plastic pollution. On the next Industry Night, Chief Solutioneer of Upstream Matt Prindiville chats about what we all can do to make real change and brought Reusie Award winners: Crystal Dreisbach, Don't Waste Durham, Lindsey McCoy, of Plaine Products...